Dream recall without effort

Hello! I've been trying to lucid dream for a couple of months now and only lucid dreamt three or four times and I had no control over them I only realized that I was dreaming.

The matter is, that there are periods when I keep my dream journal updated and do reallity checks every day. In these periods my dream recall is a little bit worse than when I don't write down my dreams in the journal or when I don't do reality checks. These periods when I do not "care about my dreams" I've noticed that I can remember my dreams way better and they are more detailed.

Does anyone know why?

Maybe you are feeling a higher level of mental stress when you go to sleep knowing that you are trying to remember your dreams. That could impact the quality of your sleep, which can impact your ability to recall the dreams.

When you don't care the stress goes away and the dream recall comes more easily.

So, you could just not worry about it and if you remember them write them down. If not, no big deal.

Sure, but the problem is that it also occurs when I try to do reality checks, cause if I don't do them then all the chances of lucid dream are gone.
I'm not worried about dream recall cause mine is very good. Its just that when I think about lucid dreams de details of my dreams are not as clear and good as when I don't think about it.

Well, it could be, as Tygar said. Maybe you are stressing over lucid dreaming. Worrying about getting a lucid, and attaching negative emotions to when you don't get a lucid.

Keep writing in your DJ and practicing awareness, RCs and mantras. But don't be anxious to get a lucid. Don't wish for it too hard. Instead, know, that you will have a lucid. And if not, it's a great learning opportunity. Happy dreams:alien:

Considering you have a good dream recall ratel; you might be interested in trying out the DEILD method?

As soon as you wake up, assuming you remember your dream try not to move at all or very minimal, keep your eyes closed and picture the scene and details of your dream; if nothing goes wrong you should be able to get back into the dream within a few seconds, this time Lucid.

That was a good speculation, Tygar. I'm happy you noted that, because it can very likely be the cause.

Ones subconscious tends to adopt an opposing force to that of your conscious thought. So, you aren't trying to remember your dreams - Since there is nothing to really contrast this idea, your regular natural recall shines through. Woohoo, Right?

Now you're trying to increase your recall, and maybe even lucid dream! In the back of your head, even if your not aware, your subconscious is doing the procrastinations for you. Well, now that i'm making the push to lucid dream... Will I ? Can I? How? When? So on, and so forth. This can potentially build up an underlying amount of stress. Not enough to put you in any sort of noticeable mental/physical distress.. but enough to hinder your dreaming capabilities.

So, like the ever-so-lovely Gab said - Don't yearn for it, let it come to you. All you can do while your waiting is practice!

And now for a rather sloppy analogy! -- You're at a train station, waiting for the train with many other people. There is no set time as to when the train will come, but you, and everyone else; know it will come. It always does, it's just unpredictable. Now, you can yell "HEY TRAIN HURRY UP!!" And hope that it's going to speed up for you, but who are you kidding? Rather, you decide to sit down, relax, and wait for it. Obviously it's going to come, I guess all that's left to do is figure out in advance where you'll sit. Maybe make a playlist too.

Validus, that's a great explanation! And example of the train has helped me a lot! :lol: Thanks!

It's a matter of outcome dependence: you want it too bad!

I've noticed that there are some days where I focus way too much on lucid dreaming, doing up to 30-40 RC's per day, trying to force myself to be aware etc... Guess what? I have shitty sleep, shitty recall and, of course, no LD's :P

The key is to focus on the process and fully enjoy it. Ask yourself "what can I do right now to enhance my chance of becoming lucid?" (thus focusing on the single step you can take right now - process orientation - less stress) rather than "How the hell can I get more lucids? I want them so bad and I'm sooo frustrated!" (too focused on the goal - more stress).

Besides, have other things going in your life to take away some more stress.

To sum up: Have the intention of having LD's, know that you'll have them, like Gab and Validus said (great metaphor!), but at the same time focus on the process.